Understanding your placement scores

Language

Incoming students at Augustana can see their language placement test scores by logging in to Arches and clicking on “Check your placement scores.”

If you have taken a language placement test, check for your score in Arches after allowing us three business days to process your results. Then check the charts below to see what your score means for your placement.

The first year of a language (two semesters) is covered by course numbers 101 and 102. The second year of a language is numbered 200 and higher; the third year, 300 or higher. It is common for students with several years of high school language to place into the first year of college-level language. 

Math

All Augustana students are required to take a Quantitative Reasoning (Q) course to graduate.  For some students, this Q course will be pre-calculus, calculus or higher.

Do you intend to pursue one of these STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) majors or programs?

Applied mathematics
Biochemistry
Chemistry
Computer science
Data analytics
Engineering physics
Mathematics
Mathematics education
Physics
Pre-med
Pre-physical therapy (program)
Pre-optometry (program)
Pre-pharmacy (program)

If you do not plan to pursue one of these majors, you are not required to take a course in the calculus sequence. The following information does not apply to you.

If you do plan to pursue one of these majors, please continue reading. The following information applies to you.

Students who took the ACT or SAT

Even if you applied test optional, we require all students to submit official copies of standardized test scores for math placement purposes. (Log in to the Admissions Portal to confirm we have your official scores.) Your math placement is determined primarily by your Math Index Score (MIS). Your MIS is based on your high school GPA and your ACT or SAT math subscore. Your placement also is affected by the math courses you took in high school and the grades you earned. By logging in to Arches and choosing “Check your placement scores” you can see your MIS, if you have one. Use the chart below to determine which course is appropriate for you.  

Important: Students who took a high school math course(s) after taking the SAT/ACT may feel their Math Index Score does not reflect their skill level. Augustana College offers an online program called ALEKS that gives students an opportunity to show they are ready for a higher-level math.

Note: If you do not see a Math Index Score in Arches, you may be a recent applicant to Augustana or you may need to confirm we have your scores. Log in to the Admissions Portal to check.

Students who did not take the ACT or SAT

Students who have not taken the ACT or SAT, but plan to pursue one of the majors above, must take an ALEKS math assessment (at no cost) before they can enroll in a math course at Augustana. If you take this assessment and are not happy with your placement, you can work in ALEKS to improve your placement prior to or during a semester at Augustana.

→ Learn more about the ALEKS PPL program

Students with Advanced Placement (AP) or other college credit for math

If you earned a four or five on an AP Math exam, let us know when you complete the Pre-Registration Form prior to Advising & Registration for your first semester. Also share any college credit for math you will be transferring to Augustana. This information, rather than your Math Index Score, will be used to determine your class schedule if you are pursuing a major that requires MATH courses.

*  Required AP score:  4 or 5